Drier



H. HOWSON.

DRIER.

APPLICATION .CILED OCT. 13, 1920.

Patented Jan. v24, 1922.

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DRIER.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. la, l-92o.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

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HENRY HOWSON, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PROCTOR &

SCHWARTZ, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24, 1922.

' To'aZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY HowsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain' Improvements in'Driers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus'for drying material by the circulation of heated air.

The invention can be applied to apparatus for drying material supported on trays, suspended from rods, or carried by endless conveyers.

One object of the invention is to locate the circulating fan, or fans, at an angle, preferably at the corner of the drier and at one side of the heating chamber.

A further object of the invention is to construct the fan so that the bearings for the 'fan shaft are accessible as they are on the outside of the casing.

A still further object of the invention is to locate the bearings so that they will be protected from the direct action of the heat.

Still another object of the invention is to rovide a construction by which the fan can iie bodily moved out of the apparatus without disconnecting the gearing in order that minor repairs may be made to the fan structure.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 isa sectional view through a drier, illustrating my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of sufficient of a drier illustrating my invention to show the power shaft and the fan shaft;

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the fan structure located at the lower portion of the drier; and

Fig. 4 is a view of a modification in which the fan shaft extends through the casing at both ends.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the casing divided by a vertical partition 2 into a drying chamber 3 and a circulating chamber 4. In the upper portion of the drier, in the present instance, is`\a heating chamber 5, in which is a series of steam pipes 6, which heat the air in circulation. 7. 7 are trays adapted to travel on rails 8 of any suitable form. The drying chamber is separated from the heating chamber by a partition 9, which extends part-way across the drier,

leaving a space 10 for the free circulation of air.

11 is a fan shaft mounted in bearings 12 secured to a base 13, which is firmly secured 'to the recessed portion 14 of the frame 1a of .cured to the frame work of the casing 1.

The fan is enclosed within an annular ring 2O made in two parts in the present instance. The part 20a is fixed, while. the part 2Ob is secured to the movable frame 1a of the casing, the dividing line being at the center of the ring.

It will be noticed that the frame l is recessed from the outside, as at 21, and the bearings 12 are located in this recess. The casing 14 of the frame separates this recess from the interior of the drier, consequently, the bearings are kept cool at all times. A collar 22 is secured to the shaft 11 and a ball bearing may be' rovided at this point, if desired. The casing of the frame 1a overlaps the main frame at top and bottom and at the sides, as shown, so that when it is inV place it forms a continuation of the casing. The portion 14 of the frame, which extends into the drier, is comparatively narrow so as not to interfere with the circulation of air in the drier, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 3, I have show/n a modification in which the fan is located at one of the lower corners of the drier and the heating chamber 5a also forms the circulating chamber. In this chamber is a series of heating pipes 6a. If desired, heating pipes 6b may be located in the lower ortion of the drier, as shown in the drawings. In this instance, the portion carrying the bearings is a continuation of the main frame and is not movable.

In Fig. 4, another modification is illustrated, in which the bearings are located on the outside of the casing, the bearing 12a being located on the top of the casing and the bearing 12b being located at the side of the casing. The diagonal shaft 11a extends through the casing and is mounted in the bearings. About midway between the two bear ber, drying` the material carried by the trays,

or other supports.

By locating the fan i'n the manner shown, the bearings are. on the outside of the drier and are protected from the heat, consequently, the bearings can be properly lubricated at all times. Lubricant can be applied from the outside of the drier while the machine is in operation.

By making the frame` which carries the bearings` movable. the frame, with the fan and theshaft. can be turned on the power shaft or its bearing as a pivot so that, in the event of anyy repairs being necessary to the fan, they can be made without entering the drier.

While only1 one fan is Ishown and the structure connected therewith, a drier may be provided with a series of fans, depending upon the length of the drier and the material to be dried.

I claim:

l. The combination of a drier having a drying compartment; means for heating the air in said compartment: a fan for circulating the air through the compartment; a shaft on which the fan is mounted, said shaft being arranged at an angle in respect to the horizontal and bearings for the fan shaft on the outside of the casing.

2. The combination in a drier, of a drying chamber: a circulating chamber; means for heating the air in circulation; a diagonally arranged shaft at one corner of the drier; a fan on the shaft for causing 'the air to circulate through the drying chamber and through the circulating chamber, the bearings for said shaft being on the outside of the. casing; and a power shaft, also on the outside of the casing, geared to said fan shaft.

3. The combination in a drier, of a drying chamber; means for circulating air in the chamber; a diagonally arranged shaft;bear ings for said shaft, said bearings being on the outside of the casing; a support for the bearings, said support projecting into the drier; and a fan mounted on the shaft Within the drier.

4. The combination of a drier having a drying chamber and a circulating chamber; means for heating the air in circulation in. said chamber; a fan; a shaft 011 which the fan is mounted; bearings for the shaft; a support for the bearings; and a longitudinal power shaft by which the fan is driven, the bearings being on the outside of the casing of the drier, the supports for the bearings and the fan being movable so as to allow the fan to be moved tothe outside of the casing.

5. The combination in a drier, of a partition separating the drier into a drying chamber and a circulating chamber: a diagonal shaft; a fan mounted on the shaft lo -ated between the drying chamber and the circulating chamber: a longitudinally arranged power shaft: gearing for driving the fan shaft from the power shaft; bearings for the said shaft; and a frame on which the bearings are mounted projecting into the drier, the said structure being pivotally mounted at the power shaft so that, when desired` the structure can be turned on the power shaft to move the fan to the outside of the drier.

6. The combination in a drier, of a vertical partition separating a drying chamber from a circulating chamber; a heating chamber above the drying chamber; heating pipes therein; a diagonally arranged partition' separating the heating chamber from the circulating Chamber; said partition having an opening; a fan located in the opening; a diagonal shaft on which the fan is mounted; bearings for the fan shaft; means for driving the shaft; and a casing separating the bearings from the fan and from the interior of the drier so that the bearings are on the outside, while the fan is within the drier.

7. The combination in a drier, of a vertical partition; a diagonal partition separating the drier into compartments; means for heating the air in circulation in the compartments; a movable frame forming part of the casing; a segmental ring mounted partly on the fixed frame of the casing and partly on the movable frame and forming a fan opening; a fan located in said opening; a diagonal shaft on which the fan is.

mounted; bearings for said shaft; means for driving the shaft; and a pivot for the fan structure, including a frame, so that the structure can be turned on the pivot to move the fan to a position outside of the drier.

HENRY HOWSON. 

